Seal-lock



(N0 Model.) I G. A. BLLSWORTH'.

SEAL LOGK. V No. 269,033. lPatented Deo. 12, 1882.

Mr] TAV V VEN TCH NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. ELLSW'ORIH, OF ALGIERS, LA., ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS 'IOV EDWARD QUINN, OF SAME PLAGE, AND CHARLES MINNIGERODE, JR.,

OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

SEAL-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,033, dated December 12, 1882. Application fled'June 7, 1882. (No modrl.)

To-ull whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE AnTHURs ELLswon'rH, a resident of the town ot' Algiers, parish ot' Orleans, and State ot' Louisiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin a' Combination Seal-Lock and Label; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and correct description of the same, reference being had to the annexed r3 drawings, making a part of this specific-ation.

This invention provides a means for locking, sealing, and labeling the doors of cars orother vehicles, the doors and windows of buildings or apartments, as well as the covers of boxes i 5 and other packages. The construction and arrangement ofthe parts are such thatwhen once applied the device cannot be unlocked or the door or cover opened without evidence of the same being recorded on one ofthe parts ofthe zo invention.

My invention consists of two hooks, one having its point at about a right angle to the shank thereof, and the otherwith a rounded or curved end and sharpened points. The

z5 straight end of the latter is made round, in

order that it can be. turned in a similarlyshaped hole in the body ot' the car or where else applied. This end is notched on one of its sides, so that when it is inserted to its 3o proper depth therein it shall be engaged by a' catch, and thus be securely locked in position. The catch is forced back so as to permit ot' lhe withdrawal ot' the hook by turning the latter so as to bring a smooth surface opposite the same. The right-angle hook is permanently secured tothe door, window, or cover, with its pointin an opposite direction from the location of the detachable hook, and the said door, window, or cover has an arc-groove 40 cut therein, beginning atitsrear edge'and eX- tending to a point on a straight line drawn between the location ofthe two hooks, and with a radius from the shank of the movable one,

as shown in the drawings, so that in the prac tice of the invention the point of the curved portion may operate therein. A label containing requisite information is designed to be engaged by theaforesaidhooks by tirstslipping one end ofthe same over the immovable hook,

l leaving its free end to extend over the edge of 5o Y the door, window, or cover, as the case may be, and the hole containing the catch above mentioned. lIhe shank ot' the second hook is then pressed through the label and into the hole made forits reception until caught by the catch thereof, the point of the curved end in the meantime piercing the label and entering the groove which is made for its reception. The label cannot thereafter be removed without first releasing thetmovable hook, to 6o do which it must be turned sufficiently to bring a smooth surface in contact with the catch, thereby unlocking the same. 'This movement causes the 'curved point to iollow the arcgroove, thus necessarily cutting a similarlyshaped curve in the label, thereby clearly indicating that the same has been tampered with.

In the accompanying drawings my invention is'shown in its application to freight-cars. 7o

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a car provided with my invention. Fig. 2l is a horizontal sect-ion of one of the sides thereof; and Fig. 3, a detached label, as after having been used.

The letter A indicates the body of a car, B one ot' its doors, and G the ordinary fastening ot' the same.

l) represents the stationary hook.

E is the label, in which holes are made by slipping the same over the stationary hook, and by afterward forcing the points of the detachable hook F through the opposite end thereof.

The letter g designates the notch in the shank of the detachable hook, and h the catch 8 5 whereby the said hook is secured in position, and 'L' the arc groove in which the curved hook Operates.

From the above description it will be seen that the door cannot be opened until the de- 9o tachable hook has been withdrawn 5 that the said hook cannot be taken ont until it has been turned about one-quarter around, which cannot be done without destroying or ina manner defacing the label, which acts as a seal and label combined, upon which can be printed or writ-ten all the particulars-fit' on a car, where from, where to, number of car, contents, and any instructions as to disposition of ear when empty; or any private stamp or signatureof an agent or official can be put on label, either 011 the front or back thereof.

Having described my invention,WhatI elai n1 as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination of the door B, havin-g an external hook, D, and are-groove the car- 1o body A, and label E, with the curved hook F,

having notch g, and the catch h, all arranged to operate es described, and for the purpose set forth. y

In testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name.

GEORGE ARTHURS EIJISWORTH.

In presence of- P. J. FINNEY, J. C. HUBBELL, 

